Auspicious Fishes Do Not Bring Blessings

The grand hall of the imperial palace was thick with tension, its golden lanterns casting an eerie glow over the polished marble floors. The air was heavy with unspoken words and wary glances. Every noble, minister, and consort had gathered, their expressions ranging from curiosity to barely concealed amusement.

As I entered the hall, I let out a deliberate yawn, covering my mouth lazily with my fingertips.

"It's so late," I said, my voice carrying through the tense silence. "What could possibly be so urgent to summon me at this hour?"

My gaze swept across the hall until it landed on Noor Giza. She sat rigidly on her cushion, her usually poised demeanor betraying hints of unease. Her fingers trembled slightly against the fabric of her sleeve, her knuckles turning white.

I raised a brow, my interest piqued.

"Oh? Judging by the atmosphere, are we trying a case?" I asked, feigning curiosity as I settled into my seat with practiced grace.

The king, seated on his golden throne, regarded me with a sharp gaze before turning to Consort Yahiya. His voice was steady, but his eyes burned with expectation.

"Consort Yahiya, all the witnesses you have asked for are here. You may continue."

Consort Yahiya, dressed in deep crimson silk, stood with a triumphant air. She turned to the emperor, her lips curling into a smile.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

With a deliberate pause, she cast a withering glance at Noor Giza before continuing.

"The day before Consort Noor Giza gave birth, the Ninth Duke bought off Rahil, a skilled swimmer, and ordered him to place a stake beneath the water's surface. He then sprinkled fish food over the area. That was how he created the so-called 'Auspicious Fishes.'"

A murmur spread through the hall as everyone pieced together what she was implying. The grand spectacle that had been celebrated as a divine omen—proving Noor Giza's child was favored by the heavens—was nothing more than a cheap trick.

At that moment, a trembling servant fell to his knees before the king, his forehead nearly touching the cold floor.

"Your Majesty, I beg for mercy! I was only following orders! Spare my life!"

I leaned back, folding my hands in my lap, and let my lips part in mock surprise.

"The Ninth Duke is certainly… imaginative," I mused. "Then that means the dragon that night…"

"Was obviously fake."

Consort Yahiya's voice rang through the chamber as she stood abruptly, her silk sleeves billowing as she moved.

"At the very least, this is deception. At its worst, it was an attempt to pass off a harlot's bastard as a prince and bring tragedy upon the dynasty!"

A collective gasp echoed through the hall. Even the ministers who had remained neutral up to this point shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Noor Giza, now visibly shaken, fell to her knees. She crawled forward, her hands trembling as she reached the emperor's feet. Her voice was thick with desperation.

"I had no idea! I swear on my life, I didn't know anything about this! But—but I can guarantee that the Ninth Duke had no such intentions!"

The emperor, who had remained composed up until now, suddenly reached down, grabbing Noor Giza's chin between his fingers.

The entire hall fell into a hushed silence.

"Guarantee?" His voice was deadly quiet, yet it sent shivers down spines. "Consort Noor, how can you guarantee something you claim to know nothing about?"

Noor Giza's breath hitched. She had always relied on the emperor's favor, but now, faced with his terrifyingly cold expression, she seemed to finally realize the depth of her predicament.

I watched the scene unfold with amusement, twirling the end of my sleeve between my fingers.

"Has this woman really lived two lives?" I thought. "She has such a low IQ!"

Deciding to add a bit of intrigue, I shifted my gaze to a trembling palace maid kneeling near the center of the hall.

"There's a palace maid kneeling here," I said lightly. "Can someone tell me what offense she has committed?"

Consort Yahiya turned her sharp gaze on me, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Consort Sefa, you truly don't recognize her?" she asked, amusement laced in her tone. "When you were accused of adultery back then, wasn't it you who claimed that this very maid was passing on love letters?"

I blinked, feigning indifference.

"Did I? I don't remember."

Consort Yahiya chuckled, shaking her head.

"Since when did you become so forgetful? Back then, you personally searched Consort Noor's belongings to peruse those very letters yourself."

Before I could respond, the maid suddenly bent forward, pressing her forehead against the marble floor in a desperate bow.

"Your Majesty! Spare me!" she wailed. "I only helped Consort Noor deliver something from outside the palace. I had no idea they were love letters!"

The hall was deathly silent. Every pair of eyes was now focused on Noor Giza, whose expression had shifted from panic to complete disbelief.

She turned toward the maid, her lips slightly parted in shock.

"I've always treated you so well," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And yet, you—you—are helping others frame me?"

The betrayal in her voice was almost pitiful.

Almost.

I tapped my fingers against the wooden armrest of my chair, a satisfied smile tugging at my lips.

Tonight's entertainment was proving to be quite… delightful.